OPERATIONAL READINESS OF RESERVE UNITS

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr Leong Horn Kee asked the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, as more than two-thirds of our combat forces are in the Reserve, whether his Ministry is satisfied with the operational readiness of the reserve units.

The Minister of State for Defence and Trade and Industry (BG Lee Hsien Loong) (for the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence): Mr Speaker, Sir, two factors will determine how well reserve units perform in war. Firstly, the thorough preparation of men and materials and, secondly, their motivation on the battlefield.

In peace time, Mindef makes sure that people and equipment are available, that units and individuals are well trained, and, that the mobilization system is reliable.

Reserve units are already performing limited operational duties. Units on in-camp training are rostered with active units to be on standby. They are fully equipped and armed, ready to be deployed at a moment's notice. Every so often, they are activated without warning to test their responsiveness.

Our reserve units are fully manned. Each reserve unit has complete emergency stores of weapons, ammunition, vehicles and other equipment. Exacting exercises during in-camp training keep reservists combat-fit. Using couriers to reach the troops in Silent Mobilization, they can return, pick up their stores, and be ready for action in less than 30 hours. We have achieved 90% success in practice mobilizations. From this year, the SAF will be conducting Open Mobilization exercises. Response will be even faster.

On the basis of their performance in peace time, Mindef is confident that our reserve units are operationally ready. But what about their likely motivation on the battlefield? It is the one critical factor that has not been tested. If the spirit of our reservists should falter in war, then all our expenditures and preparations would come to nought. But if they respond, as Mindef believes they will, they will be equal to their responsibilities. When our reserve units combine their training and equipment with high motivation, they will be more than a match for any foe.

Mr Leong Horn Kee (Thomson): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Minister of State whether exercises have been conducted regularly to test the operational readiness of the units, how often are they conducted and, if they have been conducted, how effective they have been?

BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Speaker, Sir, as I explained, we do two kinds of exercises. One is sudden activation exercises for units which are on standby. That means, they must load up, go out, do an exercise, conduct an operation and demonstrate their fitness. The second kind of exercise which we do is a mobilization exercise, where we press the button, call people back from their civilian careers, and they have to come back to camp and get equipped and get ready to fight, within about a day. We do both, regularly, and we are quite satisfied with the results.

Dr Dixie Tan (Ulu Pandan): Sir, would the Minister of State agree that the speed of mobilization and the willingness of mobilization would depend a lot on public opinion and public support for this procedure? And what Mindef has done about it?

BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Ulu Pandan has brought up a very important point, and that is, how well the reservists respond, not only the speed of mobilization but how well they perform in general. It depends to a very great extent on how well we support them, how well the public supports them.

As I informed the House last week, 96% of the public support the idea of national service, although some of them are still not very clear about the role of reservists as front-line fighting soldiers. But we have made progress and, in this process of making progress, opinion leaders have a critical role to play. And even when we talk about opinion leaders, we have taken steps forward. I refer to sentiments within this House concerning national service, concerning national security, concerning the defence of our Republic. If we make a comparison between the sentiments in this House now and the sentiments here perhaps about a year or two ago, significant progress has been made. This year, the Defence budget was discussed with nobody disagreeing with the fundamentals of defence. None of the PAP Members, of course, and none of the Opposition Members. It is an important step forward which we should note, with happiness and with further anticipation, that more progress will be made in time to come.

The Member for Potong Pasir has said quite clearly in his first address here that he supports the idea of a strong defence within the limits of our affordability and, if need be, he will sacrifice himself for the defence of the nation. That is entirely correct and it is a sentiment which we would like every Singaporean to have. It is a pity that the Member was absent during the Committee of Supply. So it was not possible for us to have the benefit of his views and advice on how we can better improve our national defence preparedness, but I am sure there will be many opportunities for more positive contributions later on.

Although the Opposition Member for Anson spoke up during the Committee of Supply on Defence matters, it is worthy to note that the fundamentals were unchallenged and were presumed to be correct, that we have to spend a reasonable sum, that we must be prepared, and that we must be ready even though we do not have any enemies today. This is a very significant development which should not pass unnoticed and which, in fact, should be applauded. Such progress cannot fail to have a good effect on the reservists' morale and performance in the SAF.

Dr Lau Teik Soon (Serangoon Gardens): In view of the Total Defence concept, will the Ministry consider coordinating the mobilization of not only the reserve units but also the civil defence units?

BG Lee Hsien Loong: Yes, in answer to the Member for Serangoon Gardens, we will indeed consider that. We have practised mobilization of reservists. We shall be practising mobilization of civil potential of equipment, and the next step would be to practise both of them together.

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam (Anson): Mr Speaker, Sir, it is not a supplementary question. But may I make a clarification?

Mr Speaker: No, you cannot.

Mr Jeyaretnam: All right.